What is mediation ?

“… persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser — in fees, expenses, and waste of time.”       –  Abraham Lincoln

Why Mediate ?

Mediation brings respectful focus to bear on individual concerns in an atmosphere that is conducive to agreement. A mediated conversation provides valuable information about the situation at hand, increasing our awareness of others’ points of view and fostering compassion for all involved.  In the face of stress our normally well-mannered brains revert to instinctual programming. Body chemistry changes, our focus shifts to survival – fight or flight – and we respond accordingly. This unconscious process actually hampers our ability to reason.  Mediators study the nature of conflict and view it as a fluid experience. We believe that well-intentioned people can learn to maintain productive personal and professional relationships in the presence of dispute.  The mediator serves as an impartial witness. He or she is neutral, with no stake in a particular outcome. Mediation does not provide answers or impose results. Effective mediation empowers participants to identify solutions that work in the context of their particular situation.  The mediation process is confidential.